My air fryer flank steak is a no-fuss recipe that always gets rave reviews! I whip up this dinner-time favorite any time I’m craving deliciously tender meat with mouth-watering flavor.
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My Tender Recipe for Flank Steak in the Air Fryer
I used to think flank steak was one of those cuts that only worked on the grill. But one night when it was just too cold to stand outside while cooking steaks, I decided to try air fryer flank steak.
I’d been marinating the steak since the morning in preparation, so I knew the flavors would be spot on. But I was so curious to see if the air fryer could achieve that wonderful medium-rare doneness without overcooking the flank steak.
I have tried plenty of other cuts of steak in the air fryer like ribeye, sirloin steak, and filet mignon, but for some reason just never though to air fry flank steak!
I swear, the flank steak smelled so good when it came out of the air fryer, the hardest part of my recipe was letting it rest for a full 10 minutes before slicing into it! And the level of tenderness put the grill to shame. Now, I only cook it in the air fryer!
Air Fry Flank Steak Ingredients
- Flank steak – This cut of beef is lean and flavorful. Skirt steak and flat iron steak make good substitutes.
- Salt and pepper – Enhances the natural taste of the meat.
- Dry red wine – Adds richness and helps tenderize the steak, but balsamic vinegar works great too.
- Olive oil – Helps the marinade coat the meat and creates a nice crust on the steak.
- Worcestershire sauce – Deepens the savory flavor of the marinade.
- Garlic – I use freshly minced garlic, but jarred will work in a pinch.
- Dijon mustard – Adds a subtle tang to the steak’s flavor.
- Dried rosemary – Gives the steak an earthy, aromatic depth. It’s my go-to herb when making this recipe.
- Beef broth – Complements the steak for the base of the sauce, but vegetable broth will work instead.
- Butter – Adds richness and creates a velvety finish for the sauce.
How to Cook Flank Steak in the Air Fryer
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Using a knife, score both sides of the steak in a criss-cross pattern. Sprinkle salt and black pepper on both sides.
Whisk together the marinade ingredients and pour them in a ziplock bag over the steak. Massage the marinade into the meat and refrigerate it for 4-8 hours, preferably overnight.
STEP TWO: After marinating, take the steak out of the bag and pat it dry with paper towels. Let it sit for 30 minutes, then transfer the extra flank steak marinade into a saucepan and set it aside.
STEP THREE: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil and place the steak inside. Air fry it on each side for 5-7 minutes, flipping once halfway through the cooking time. For a medium-rare steak, I cook each side for 5 minutes.
STEP FOUR: Let the steak rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes, then thinly slice it against the grain.
STEP FIVE: While the meat rests, prepare the sauce. Whisk the beef broth into the reserved marinade and bring it to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer it until the sauce thickens. Stir in the butter, taste, and season the sauce if necessary. Spoon it over the steak and enjoy!
Tips to Make the Best Flank Steak in the Air Fryer
- When I slice the steak, I cut it thinly and against the grain. This enhances tenderness for that melt-in-your-mouth texture!
- I always try to let the steak marinate overnight. This gives it more time to tenderize, and the flavor is worth a little planning ahead.
- Preheat the air fryer before adding the flank steak. This helps air fry flank steak evenly, so I never skip this step.
- I take the flank steak out of the air fryer when it reaches 130 degrees F. The temperature will rise another 5 degrees while it rests wrapped in foil, so I’d rather pull it a little early than end up with overcooked steak.Â
- The steak absolutely has to rest for at least 10 minutes! I wrap it in tin foil so it won’t lose too much heat, but this step is critical for letting the muscle fibers reabsorb their juices.
Air Fryer Flank Steak Variations and Substitutions
- When I want to kick the flavor up a notch, I’ll use steak seasoning as my main spice in the marinade.
- For a lime-infused twist, I’ll combine lime juice with finely grated lime zest and add some seasonings to create my marinade.
- If I don’t have red wine on hand, I’ll swap it out for balsamic vinegar for a slightly sweeter, tangy marinade.
- I like to use soy sauce instead of Worcestershire for an Asian-inspired twist. I always reduce the amount of salt when I do this since soy sauce is plenty salty.
- For a dry rub effect, I’ll drain the marinade off the flank steak, pat it dry with paper towels, then rub a combination of chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder all over the steak before air frying.
What to Serve with Air Fry Flank Steak
I love a good meat-and-potatoes combo, so I usually pair air fryer flank steak with classics like air fryer baked potato, diced potatoes in the air fryer, or twice baked potatoes.
For some easy veggie side dishes, I’ll whip up my air fryer asparagus, air fryer broccoli, or air fryer broccolini.
How Long to Cook Flank Steak in the Air Fryer
My family enjoys our steak between medium rare and medium, so I cook flank steak in the air fryer until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees F, about 14 minutes total. While it rests wrapped in tin foil, the temperature will naturally increase to 135 degrees F.
Here are some temperature guidelines for more levels of doneness:
- Medium-rare: 130-135 degrees F
- Medium: 140-145 degrees F
- Medium-well: 145-150 degrees F
- Well Done: 155-160 degrees F
More Ways to Use Flank Steak
Leftover flank steak is one of my favorite ingredients! I love using it to make steak fajitas and carne asada quesadillas, and my list of 25 ways to use leftover steak has even more ideas.
I’ve also used flank steak with my London broil marinade, and the results were amazing. And of course, when I want a set-it-and-forget-it meal, slow cooker flank steak is always a winner!
Air Fryer Flank Steak FAQs
How to cut air fried flank steak
For the most tender air fryer flank steak, I identify the direction of the muscle fibers, then use a sharp knife to thinly slice the meat perpendicular to the fibers. This is called cutting against the grain, and it helps break up the muscle fibers for super tender bites!
How to reheat flank steak in the air fryer
To reheat flank steak, I start by preheating the air fryer to 350 degrees F. Once hot, I add the steak to the air fryer basket and use a meat thermometer to check every 2 minutes until it reaches about 130 degrees F. Depending on the thickness of the slices, it will take 2-4 minutes.
How to store leftover air fryer flank steak
I store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If I know I won’t eat them right away, I’ll freeze the steak in a freezer-safe bag with some of the sauce to keep it moist.
When I’m ready to eat, I thaw it in the fridge overnight and then warm it up in the air fryer. It tastes just as delicious the second time around!
More Easy Air Fryer Dinner Recipes
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Tender Air Fryer Flank Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds flank steak
- Kosher salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
Sauce:
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Using a knife, score the steak on both sides with shallow cuts across the grain in a criss-cross pattern. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- In a 2-cup measuring cup, whisk together the red wine, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, Dijon, and rosemary. Pour the mixture into a plastic zipper bag, then place the steak in the bag and massage the marinade into the meat. Refrigerate it for 4-8 hours, or overnight. Â
- Remove the steak from the bag and place it on a cutting board, then pour the leftover marinade from the bag into a saucepan and set it aside.
- Pat the steak dry with paper towels. Let it rest and come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Place the steak inside, and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, flipping once. (5 mins each side for 130 degrees/med-rare)
- Remove the steak and allow it to rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes, then slice thinly against the grain.
- While the steak rests, make the sauce (optional). Add the beef broth to the saucepan with the marinade. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and simmer it until the sauce thickens. Stir in the butter, taste, and season if necessary.
Notes
- Slice the steak thinly and against the grain.
- Take the flank steak out of the air fryer when it reaches 5 degrees below your desired doneness level. The temperature will rise another 5 degrees while it rests wrapped in foil.
- Doneness temperatures:
- Medium-rare: 130-135 degrees F
- Medium: 140-145 degrees F
- Medium-well: 145-150 degrees F
- Well Done: 155-160 degrees F
- Reheat leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees for about 2-4 minutes.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
This cane out so juicy!
I love flank steak this way. 100% awesome.
delicious flavors and so easy in the air fryer
Is there a substitution for the red wine as we do not use alcoholic.
You can certainly replace the red wine for a non-alcoholic red wine if you are open to that, however if you want something else you could try beef broth, red wine vinegar(dilute or use sparingly), red grape juice, pomegranate juice, or even a tomato juice or sauce. It just depends on your preference. I hope that helps, have fun cooking!